J. N. L. Baker
Encyclopedia
John Norman Leonard Baker (generally known as J. N. L. B.) (12 December 1893 – 16 December 1971) was a geographer associated with Jesus College, Oxford
for nearly sixty years.
Born in Liverpool
, Baker studied at Liverpool College from 1911 to 1913 before entering Jesus College as an exhibitioner
in 1913, where he read Modern History. His undergraduate career was interrupted by the First World War, during which he was wounded on the Somme
. He married Phyllis Hancock in 1917 whilst convalescing. He then spent two years in the Indian Army
(1918–19). He returned to Oxford and completed his history degree in 1920 before switching to geography (an interest in which had been prompted by his service in India). He obtained the diploma in geography (with distinction) in 1921 and a B.Litt. in 1922. From 1922 to 1923 he was a lecturer at Bedford College, London before being appointed as a member of staff of the Oxford University School of Geography. He was initially assistant to the Reader and librarian, before becoming a lecturer in 1927 and reader in 1933. He was influential in the arrangements for the creation of the geography undergraduate degree at Oxford, which started in 1932, and was disappointed not to be appointed professor (the post going to Kenneth Mason).
Baker's particular interest was the history of geography and exploration; he was appointed Reader in Historical Geography in 1935. His book, A History of Geographical Discovery and Exploration became the standard work in its field. He was a council member of the Royal Geographical Society
, winning the society's Victoria Medal in 1964 for his "contributions to the history of geography." He was also a founder member (and later president) of the Institute of British Geographers, which broke away from the RGS in 1933. He was also a member of the Hakluyt Society
from 1924 onwards, serving as President between 1955 and 1960. He was also involved with Section E (Geography) of the British Association for the Advancement of Science
and was Section President in 1955.
Baker was appointed as a college Lecturer in Geography by Jesus College in 1932 and, in 1939, was appointed Senior Bursar
and Fellow. He worked in intelligence matters during the Second World War. Thereafter he increasingly spent time on his college duties, resigning his readership in 1947 (though he continued to lecture). He remained as bursar until 1962, when he retired. He wrote about the history of Jesus College for the Victoria County History
volume on the history of the University of Oxford
. He also wrote Jesus College 1571–1971 to mark the college's quatercentenary. Baker is commemorated at Jesus College through an annual prize for geography students and in the name of the college geography society.
Baker was also an active member in the civic affairs of Oxford
, drawing on his abilities as a bursar for matters of city finance and on his geographical knowledge for matters of town planning. He was first elected a university member of the City Council in 1945. He became an alderman
in 1963 and, in 1964–65, he was Lord Mayor
of Oxford, the first university member to hold this post. His elder daughter Janet Young
(later Baroness Young) was a City Councillor alongside Baker. She became Leader of the council in 1967, the year that Baker's time on the council ended.
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
for nearly sixty years.
Born in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Baker studied at Liverpool College from 1911 to 1913 before entering Jesus College as an exhibitioner
Exhibition (scholarship)
-United Kingdom and Ireland:At the universities of Dublin, Oxford and Cambridge, and at Westminster School, Eton College and Winchester College, and various other UK educational establishments, an exhibition is a financial award or grant to an individual student, normally on grounds of merit. The...
in 1913, where he read Modern History. His undergraduate career was interrupted by the First World War, during which he was wounded on the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
. He married Phyllis Hancock in 1917 whilst convalescing. He then spent two years in the Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
(1918–19). He returned to Oxford and completed his history degree in 1920 before switching to geography (an interest in which had been prompted by his service in India). He obtained the diploma in geography (with distinction) in 1921 and a B.Litt. in 1922. From 1922 to 1923 he was a lecturer at Bedford College, London before being appointed as a member of staff of the Oxford University School of Geography. He was initially assistant to the Reader and librarian, before becoming a lecturer in 1927 and reader in 1933. He was influential in the arrangements for the creation of the geography undergraduate degree at Oxford, which started in 1932, and was disappointed not to be appointed professor (the post going to Kenneth Mason).
Baker's particular interest was the history of geography and exploration; he was appointed Reader in Historical Geography in 1935. His book, A History of Geographical Discovery and Exploration became the standard work in its field. He was a council member of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
, winning the society's Victoria Medal in 1964 for his "contributions to the history of geography." He was also a founder member (and later president) of the Institute of British Geographers, which broke away from the RGS in 1933. He was also a member of the Hakluyt Society
Hakluyt Society
Founded in 1846, the Hakluyt Society is a registered charity based in London, England, which seeks to advance knowledge and education by the publication of scholarly editions of primary records of voyages, travels and other geographical material...
from 1924 onwards, serving as President between 1955 and 1960. He was also involved with Section E (Geography) of the British Association for the Advancement of Science
British Association for the Advancement of Science
frame|right|"The BA" logoThe British Association for the Advancement of Science or the British Science Association, formerly known as the BA, is a learned society with the object of promoting science, directing general attention to scientific matters, and facilitating interaction between...
and was Section President in 1955.
Baker was appointed as a college Lecturer in Geography by Jesus College in 1932 and, in 1939, was appointed Senior Bursar
Bursar
A bursar is a senior professional financial administrator in a school or university.Billing of student tuition accounts are the responsibility of the Office of the Bursar. This involves sending bills and making payment plans with the ultimate goal of getting the student accounts paid off...
and Fellow. He worked in intelligence matters during the Second World War. Thereafter he increasingly spent time on his college duties, resigning his readership in 1947 (though he continued to lecture). He remained as bursar until 1962, when he retired. He wrote about the history of Jesus College for the Victoria County History
Victoria County History
The Victoria History of the Counties of England, commonly known as the Victoria County History or the VCH, is an English history project which began in 1899 and was dedicated to Queen Victoria with the aim of creating an encyclopaedic history of each of the historic counties of...
volume on the history of the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. He also wrote Jesus College 1571–1971 to mark the college's quatercentenary. Baker is commemorated at Jesus College through an annual prize for geography students and in the name of the college geography society.
Baker was also an active member in the civic affairs of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, drawing on his abilities as a bursar for matters of city finance and on his geographical knowledge for matters of town planning. He was first elected a university member of the City Council in 1945. He became an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in 1963 and, in 1964–65, he was Lord Mayor
Mayors in the United Kingdom
In England, the office of mayor or lord mayor had long been ceremonial posts, with few or no duties attached to it. A mayor's term of office denotes the municipal year. The most famous example is that of the Lord Mayor of the City of London....
of Oxford, the first university member to hold this post. His elder daughter Janet Young
Janet Young, Baroness Young
Janet Mary Baker Young, Baroness Young PC , was a British Conservative politician. She served as the first ever female Leader of the House of Lords from 1981 to 1983, first as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and from 1982 as Lord Privy Seal...
(later Baroness Young) was a City Councillor alongside Baker. She became Leader of the council in 1967, the year that Baker's time on the council ended.